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jobustitch's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to audiobook.
I may be more interested in this book than your average American because I do work with agriculture regulations, but I loved this snapshot of the Dr. Wiley and the eventual creation of the FDA.
It is both comforting and frustrating to see that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I believe there will always be an inherent friction between the public's and the government's tolerance for risk. With anything, there is no way to promise that risk and harm can be completely eliminated from any system, and this includes the American food supply. However, by funding research and using science to make thoughtful and effective regulations (i.e. with enforcement fully funded), we can mitigate great amounts of risk and make the food supply safe for the public.
It is also interesting to see how "owning" your work in the government can really blind a person to the ever changing circumstances and inevitably hamstring their own work and mission. I'd like to shake some of my colleagues sometimes and say, "You don't own this. This is not YOUR program. It is the program you manage for the taxpayers". As soon as you add your own ego to your work, you can no longer be the objective manager/worker you were hired to be. If you want ego, go into private industry. If you are in public service, check your ego at the door. Dr. Wiley lost that objectivity later in his career and life and it made him less effective in his job.
I may be more interested in this book than your average American because I do work with agriculture regulations, but I loved this snapshot of the Dr. Wiley and the eventual creation of the FDA.
It is both comforting and frustrating to see that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I believe there will always be an inherent friction between the public's and the government's tolerance for risk. With anything, there is no way to promise that risk and harm can be completely eliminated from any system, and this includes the American food supply. However, by funding research and using science to make thoughtful and effective regulations (i.e. with enforcement fully funded), we can mitigate great amounts of risk and make the food supply safe for the public.
It is also interesting to see how "owning" your work in the government can really blind a person to the ever changing circumstances and inevitably hamstring their own work and mission. I'd like to shake some of my colleagues sometimes and say, "You don't own this. This is not YOUR program. It is the program you manage for the taxpayers". As soon as you add your own ego to your work, you can no longer be the objective manager/worker you were hired to be. If you want ego, go into private industry. If you are in public service, check your ego at the door. Dr. Wiley lost that objectivity later in his career and life and it made him less effective in his job.
actually_a_tardigrade's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
amberacks12's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
2.75
Not gonna lie- this book did not leave much of an impression on me. There were so many players, and the only explanations as to who they were was at the beginning in a type of “cast of characters” list. This, as you can imagine, in audio book format, was difficult to reference back to. I also felt like most of the legislations that passed during the duration of this book were only the beginning and a connection to modern day food and drug laws was only marginally glossed over in an epilogue.
Most of this book was politics - which is interesting. But when you’re constantly struggling to remember who is who, it was very difficult to follow.
I think this is a fascinating subject in our nation history, I just think this book maybe made a fascinating subject into an extremely dry one.
Educational value: 4
Enjoyment: 2
Emotional impact: 2.5
Total: 2.8 stars
Most of this book was politics - which is interesting. But when you’re constantly struggling to remember who is who, it was very difficult to follow.
I think this is a fascinating subject in our nation history, I just think this book maybe made a fascinating subject into an extremely dry one.
Educational value: 4
Enjoyment: 2
Emotional impact: 2.5
Total: 2.8 stars
ipanzica's review against another edition
4.0
A must read for anyone who is interested in knowing what’s in their food. This book is about the history of food regulations and the fight to stop companies from lying about what’s in their food. It mentions a lot of shady food practices that happened and the fight to have pure foods. I also liked how the book included women’s support and contributions to making these changes even though the lawmakers and scientists involved were mostly male.